Celebration took place in cities across Iraq on the night of Monday, July 10, as residents and soldiers celebrated the announcement of victory against Islamic State in Mosul. Jubilant crowds of all ages filled the streets waving Iraqi flags and dancing as fireworks went off. This video was shared by a resident of Basra Iraqi man,Hosam al-Tamimi, and it is described as showing locals and soldiers celebrating Mosul victory in Basrah. Credit: Facebook/Hosam al-Tamimi via Storyful

July 11th 2017

7 months ago

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Islamic State fighters parade through Mosul in 2014. Three years later they have been driven out of the city. Picture: AP Photo, File.Source:AP

THE leader of the US military in Iraq fears the emergence of “Islamic State 2.0” unless the Iraqi Prime Minister does something “significantly differently” in the country.

Lt Gen Stephen Townsend said despite winning back the key city of Mosul, the fight is not over against the terror group.

“If we’re to keep ISIS 2.0 from emerging, the Iraqi government is going to have to do something pretty significantly different,” he told the BBC.

“They’re going to have to reach out and reconcile with the Sunni population and make them feel like they’re government in Baghdad represents them.”

“ISIS has lost its capital in Iraq and the largest population centre it held anywhere in the world,” he said.

“Make no mistake, this victory alone does not eliminate ISIS and there’s still a tough fight ahead. But the loss of one of its twin capitals and the jewel of its so called caliphate is a decisive blow to ISIS.”

Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend is commander of the US-led operation against the Islamic State (IS) group and said he fears they could return unless something different is done with leadership. Picture: AFP PHOTO / Thomas WATKINSSource:AFP

Members of the Iraqi army pose for a selfie during their victory celebrations after a long and bloody fight. Picture: AFP PHOTO / FADEL SENNASource:AFP

“Top tier commanders from IS who are present in Deir Ezzor province have confirmed the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, emir of the Islamic State group, to the Observatory,” the monitor’s director Rami Abdul Rahman said.

“We learned of it today but we do not know when he died or how.”

The news has not been confirmed by the US military or Islamic State media channels but it follows earlier reports from Russia in mid-June saying it was also seeking to confirm whether Baghdadi had been killed.

“We cannot confirm this report, but hope it is true,” said US coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon.

Smoke billows from Islamic State positions on the edge of the Old City a day after Iraq's prime minister declared "total victory" in Mosul. Picture: Photo/Felipe Dana.Source:AP

Members of the Iraqi federal police flash the sign for victory after driving IS out of the Mosul Old City. Picture: AFP PHOTO / AHMAD AL-RUBAYESource:AFP

Scenes of celebration played out across Mosul on Monday, with people cheering the end of the terror group’s control over the city.

It’s unclear what it will mean for the future of IS, however there is already evidence jihadists had fled the organisation. A UN report last week said more than 100 fighters from Syria and Iraq had arrived in Afghanistan since February.

The group is unpopular there but is able to pay fighters triple what they would receive from the Taliban — around $600 per month, AFP reports.

The digital reach of the Islamic State is something governments are scrambling to counter as jihadists have been able to spread their message online using global social networks like YouTube and Facebook, as well as relying on encrypted messaging services like Whatsapp.